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THE BEST BUSINESS DECISION I’VE EVER MADE WAS FIRING CLIENTS!

Yes… you read that right.

And after 14 years in this industry, I don’t regret a single one.

Before anyone panics… this isn’t aimed at my current clients. In fact, it’s because of you that I’m writing this.

I’ve spent 14 years building a client base I’m incredibly proud of. You’re kind, respectful, loyal, supportive, and you make my salon a place I genuinely love coming to every day. Thank you for that. ❤️

This post is simply a reflection on the lessons I’ve learnt over the years and the boundaries I’ve put in place to protect both my business and the environment I’ve worked so hard to create.

💳 Trying to avoid paying

Whether it was walking out without paying, “forgetting” to transfer the money, or suddenly not having the money after the appointment…

No.

My knowledge, products, skills and expertise deserve to be paid for, just like anyone else’
⏰
Not respecting my time

Repeated lateness, no-shows, cancelling at the last minute, or expecting me to squeeze you in because “it’s only a quick one.”

Every appointment is planned, and every client deserves my full attention.

📅 Getting moody when my cancellation policy is enforced

My cancellation policy isn’t there to catch anyone out. It’s there to protect my business.

When an appointment is cancelled within the agreed notice period, that space is very difficult to fill.

If someone decides they no longer want to book with me because I’ve fairly enforced my policy, that’s absolutely their choice, and I genuinely wish them all the best.

That appointment simply becomes available for someone on my waiting list who values my business and respects my policies.

🎓 Not respecting my expertise

I’ve spent 14 years learning, continually investing in education and developing my skills.

If I advise against something because it could damage your natural nails or compromise the quality of my work, it’s because I care about the result, not because I’m being difficult.

My professional advice isn’t negotiable.

🚫 Crossing professional boundaries

My business has policies for a reason.

They apply to everyone equally.

I don’t make exceptions because someone has been coming for years, because it’s “only this once,” or because they’re hoping I’ll bend the rules.

💷 My prices won’t suit everyone’s budget… and that’s okay.

I completely understand that I’m not within everyone’s budget, and I never expect to be. There are incredible nail techs at every price point, and everyone has a budget that works for them.

My prices reflect 14 years of experience, continual investment in education, advanced training, premium products, and the fact that I’m incredibly proud to be a CJP Nail Systems Educator, helping to train and support other nail professionals.

When you book with me, you’re investing in the knowledge, skill, experience and standards behind every set I create.

If I’m outside your budget, there are absolutely no hard feelings. I genuinely hope you find a nail tech who suits your needs and your budget.

What isn’t okay is booking with me and then complaining about my prices.

❤️ Respect goes both ways

Over the years, some clients have become genuine friends who I speak to outside of work, while others are simply clients.

Both relationships are equally valued.

What never changes is how I run my business.

Everyone is treated fairly.

Everyone follows the same policies.

Everyone pays the same prices.

Even my best friend pays full price.

In fact, the only person who gets special treatment is Princess Ava… and even then she has to earn her nails by making my clients cups of tea first! 😂☕️

Fairness has always been one of the biggest values in my business.

It’s taken me 14 years to build a client base that keeps me fully booked with people I genuinely enjoy spending my days with.

Every difficult client I let go created space for someone who values my work, trusts my advice and respects my business.

I’m fully booked until December, and I truly believe that’s a reflection of the amazing client base I’ve built over the last 14 years.

🎓 As an Educator…

Being a CJP Nail Systems Educator isn’t just about teaching beautiful nails. It’s about helping other nail techs build successful, sustainable businesses too.

One of the biggest pieces of advice I give to every student is this…

Don’t be afraid to have boundaries.

You don’t have to tolerate disrespect, people constantly breaking your policies, trying to negotiate your prices, or behaviour that leaves you dreading appointments.

Being professional doesn’t mean saying yes to everyone.

It means building a business you’re proud of, attracting clients who value what you do, and creating an environment where both you and your clients enjoy every appointment.

Not every client is your client… and that’s okay.

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your business is politely let someone go.

❤️ To my wonderful clients…

Thank you.

Thank you for respecting my business, trusting my advice, understanding my policies, recommending me to your friends and family, and making my salon somewhere I genuinely look forward to coming to every day.

I appreciate every single one of you more than you’ll ever know.

Respect really does go both ways.

❤️

P.S. Some clients have been removed from my books… and if they ever ask to come back, I’m afraid I’m fully booked until 2081. 😉😂

💛 Why should clients use cuticle oil?

You spend hours choosing the perfect colour, builder and top coat…

…then skip the one product that keeps everything around your nails healthy.

Cuticle oil helps to:
✨ Keep the surrounding skin soft and hydrated.
✨ Improve the flexibility of the natural nail.
✨ Reduce dryness and hangnails.
✨ Keep enhancements looking fresher for longer.

Think of it like conditioner for your hair…

So if your nail tech tells you to use cuticle oil every day, they’re not trying to sell you another product

They’re trying to help you get the most out of the nails you’ve already paid for.

**A few drops a day. Happy nails. Happy cuticles. Longer lasting service.

🖤 Behind every beautiful set of nails is sometimes a story.

These were for my Princess Ava, who has been through so much recently. Watching your child face challenges you can’t take away is one of the hardest things as a parent.

Today wasn’t just about nails. It was about taking a moment to smile, feel beautiful and forget everything else for a little while.

I’m so incredibly proud of you, sweetheart. Keep fighting. Better days are coming. ❤️🖤

⚠️ THIS is why I will never compromise on nail health. ⚠️

*video in comments *

This client returned to me after a four month break following some personal circumstances.

As soon as she arrived, I could see significant trauma to her natural nails. The free edge had been removed so short that the hyponychium was exposed, there were multiple areas of broken skin around the nail folds, and I was unable to file any of the free edge without causing further pain and trauma.

After assessing the condition of her nails, I asked whether she had been wearing enhancements and if she had pulled them off herself. She then admitted that she had removed her press-on nails by pulling them off before her appointment.

At that point, a new set simply wasn’t an option.

Let me be absolutely clear…

I will not apply acrylic, builder gel or gel polish to damaged nails.

I don’t care if you’re going on holiday.
I don’t care if it’s your birthday.
I don’t care if you’ve waited weeks for your appointment.

If it isn’t safe, it isn’t happening.

As nail technicians, we have a duty of care. Our responsibility isn’t simply to apply product because a client wants it. Our responsibility is to assess whether it is safe to carry out the treatment in the first place. Sometimes the most professional thing we can do is say no.

My job isn’t to hide damage. My job is to protect your natural nails.

No amount of acrylic, builder gel or gel polish can repair exposed living tissue, broken skin or a traumatised nail. Covering it up doesn’t solve the problem. It simply risks causing further trauma, delays healing and increases the risk of complications.

Many people don’t realise that the skin underneath your free edge isn’t “dead skin”. It’s called the hyponychium, and it’s living tissue. It forms a protective barrier beneath the nail, helping to keep bacteria, dirt and debris away from the delicate tissues underneath. Rip enhancements off or cut the nail back too aggressively and you can tear or expose it. The result? Pain, an increased risk of infection and a much longer healing process.

The damage didn’t stop there. Several fingers had broken, raw skin around the side walls and cuticle area. That meant I couldn’t safely carry out my job. Every nail service requires me to support your finger, hold it firmly, prepare the nail, file the side walls, work around the cuticle and apply product with precision. On these nails, even the lightest touch caused discomfort. Every stage of the service, from preparation and filing to product application, would have risked causing more pain, more trauma and delaying healing.

A good nail technician doesn’t work through an injury. A good nail technician recognises when treatment is no longer safe. My responsibility is to protect your natural nails, not to ignore obvious trauma for the sake of a fresh set.

Instead, I carried out the only treatment I felt was appropriate: a very gentle manicure where it was safe to do so, followed by generous amounts of cuticle oil and aftercare advice to give the nails the best opportunity to recover.

This wasn’t the outcome either of us wanted, but protecting my client’s natural nails was far more important than completing a service.

💭 A few home truths…

❌ Press-on nails aren’t the problem. Incorrect removal is. If you choose to remove them, follow the manufacturer’s instructions or seek professional advice. Never force, rip or peel them from the natural nail.

❌ Pulling enhancements off can remove layers of your natural nail, expose the hyponychium and leave you with painful injuries like these.

❌ Healthy nails don’t recover by covering damage with more product. They recover by removing the cause of the damage and giving them time to heal.

❌ Just because a nail technician can apply product doesn’t mean they should.

Natural nail health comes first. Always.

No amount of money, begging or persuasion will convince me to perform a service that I believe could make the situation worse. I will never sacrifice my professional standards, my reputation or a client’s natural nail health for the sake of a set of nails.

I’d rather lose one appointment than compromise my professional integrity or be responsible for making an injury worse.

A good nail technician doesn’t just create beautiful nails.

A great nail technician knows when to say no.

🚧 Exciting news! 🚧

From 24th August, work officially begins on my new log cabin salon! 🤍✨

As you can imagine, a project like this won’t happen overnight and is expected to take a few months to complete. During this time, I’d just like to ask all of my lovely clients to please bear with us. There may be a little extra noise, dust, or slight disruption when arriving for your appointments, but I’ll do everything I can to keep things running as smoothly as possible.

All appointments will continue as normal, and I’ll keep you updated so you can follow the build from start to finish.

The new cabin will include:
🤍 A dedicated nail salon
🖤 A separate tattoo room for Adam at OutKast Ink
🚽 A private toilet
🔒 A secure gated entrance
📹 CCTV for added security and peace of mind

Thank you all so much for your patience, understanding and continued support while everything comes together. I can’t wait to share the progress with you all! 🤍

24th August… let’s get building! 🏡✨

Fresh out of a relationship. Fresh set of nails. Fresh start. 🌈❤️

This one was created for a gorgeous LGBTQ+ queen embracing her next chapter, and I wanted every nail to reflect confidence, strength and a little bit of attitude.

This entire set was hand painted from start to finish. Halfway through I threw a tantrum, questioned all my life choices, and briefly considered giving up… 😂🍒💋✨

A little update on Ava ❤️

Another day in hospital and another step closer to hopefully finding some answers.

The consultant reviewed Ava today and wanted her lying and standing blood pressure and heart rate repeated. One of the things they found was that when Ava stands up, her heart rate increases significantly, so this is now another part of the investigation.

The doctors have also said they still want Ava to have a CT angiogram, but before they can go ahead with that, they want to rule out other possible causes first. The next step is an ultrasound of her legs to assess the blood flow before deciding whether the CT angiogram is needed.

One symptom that continues to concern the team is what happens after Ava eats. Around 30 to 40 minutes after a meal, she becomes a blue-grey colour, feels extremely dizzy and her blood pressure drops. This has happened several times now, and it’s something they’re taking very seriously as they continue trying to work out the cause.

The consultants have explained that the investigations won’t stop when Ava comes home. Their priority while she’s in hospital is to rule out anything immediately dangerous. Once they’re happy they’ve done that, the remaining investigations will continue as an outpatient until they get to the bottom of what’s causing all of this.

They’ve also reassured us that when Ava is discharged, they’ll leave her access to the ward open for just over a week, so if anything changes or she’s unwell again, we can come straight back to the ward rather than starting all over again. That has given us a lot of reassurance.

Although we still don’t have a diagnosis, we do feel reassured that the doctors aren’t overlooking anything. They’re being thorough, listening to everything and making sure every possible cause is explored.

Ava is still finding hospital life incredibly hard. Like any 17-year-old, she just wants to be home, but she also knows how important it is to keep going until we finally get some answers.

Finally, thank you to every single person who continues to message, comment, pray and check in on her. Ava reads your comments herself, and they genuinely brighten her day. Every kind word and every message of support puts a smile on her face when she’s having a difficult day, and we’ll never be able to thank you all enough.

We’re still searching for answers, but we’re keeping faith that we’re getting closer every day. Please continue to keep our beautiful girl in your thoughts. ❤️

A little update on Ava ❤️ 11/7/26

Yesterday brought a few more pieces to the puzzle, even though we still don’t have the answers.

Ava was reviewed by rheumatology, who confirmed she’s hypermobile. They also discussed POTS again, although they want to rule out other possible causes before making any diagnosis. They found a delay between the pulse in her wrist and the pulse in her foot, so they’re considering a Doppler scan of her legs depending on the results of her other investigations.

Her blood pressure has continued to fluctuate throughout her stay in hospital, dropping as low as 74/40 before improving again. The nurses have all commented that her blood pressure is definitely on the low side and continues to need close monitoring.

The doctors are also trying to understand why Ava continues to lose weight. Although she wants to eat, she becomes full very quickly and sometimes has pain after eating. Around 30-40 minutes after eating, she also goes very grey, becomes extremely dizzy and feels like she’s going to faint. This is another symptom they’re investigating.

Yesterday she also experienced chest pains, and the team acted immediately by carrying out ECGs. Thankfully, they were reassuring, but they’re continuing to take every new symptom seriously.

Ava remains on Fortisip nutritional drinks, and physiotherapy are now involved to help maintain her strength and muscle function while she’s in hospital.

She’s now waiting for a CT angiogram, CT scan of her abdomen, echocardiogram and an endoscopy. The doctors have explained that these investigations will help rule out problems with her blood vessels, circulation and other possible causes of all her symptoms. We’re hoping these tests finally start giving us some answers.

Living with so much uncertainty is incredibly hard, but we do feel reassured that the team are looking at the whole picture and are determined to get to the bottom of what’s causing all of this.

Ava is understandably getting bored and upset being in hospital, but we all know the most important thing right now is making sure she gets the answers she needs before she comes home.

I’d also like to apologise if I haven’t replied to your messages individually. I currently have 41 unread messages, and I’m not ignoring anyone. Myself and adam are completely overwhelmed trying to juggle hospital, family life and continuing to work as much as I we can while Ava is so unwell.

One thing I really wanted to say is thank you. Ava reads your comments and messages herself, and every kind word, every prayer and every message of support genuinely makes her smile. On the difficult days, reading your comments reminds her that she’s surrounded by people who care, and that means more than you’ll ever know. ❤️

Thank you to everyone who continues to message, visit, check in, pray for her and keep her smiling. Your kindness and support are carrying our whole family through one day at a time, and we will never forget it.

We still don’t have the answers yet, but we’re not giving up, and neither are the amazing team looking after her. Hopefully, the next update will bring us one step closer to understanding what’s been making our beautiful girl so poorly. ❤️

A little update ❤️

Many of you know that my daughter, Ava, is currently in hospital undergoing investigations after becoming seriously unwell.

Firstly, I just want to thank everyone who has checked in on us, sent kind messages and been so understanding. It really does mean the world.

As many of you know, I’m self-employed, so unfortunately there isn’t the option of paid time off. Like many small business owners, I’m trying to balance being there for my daughter while also keeping a roof over our heads.

For now, I’m continuing to work as much as I possibly can, and all appointments are going ahead as planned.

If anything changes or I need to rearrange an appointment, I will contact you personally as soon as I know. Please don’t worry if you have an appointment booked, as I won’t leave anyone wondering.

Thank you all so much for your patience, kindness and understanding during what has been an incredibly difficult time for our family. It honestly doesn’t go unnoticed. ❤️

Kerry xx

When your client says, “It’s my 50th… don’t hold back!” 💎

We stayed true to her signature mixed-shape nails ( stiletto and ballerina) and turned the glamour all the way up with hand sculpted flowers, glitter and crystals.

Happy 50th! 🥂✨